Ellen Tucker

EAST PRAIRIE - Martha Ellen Thompson Tucker, 77, died Oct. 7, 2006, at the home of Alec and Sarah Poff in Blue Springs.

Born Sept. 2, 1929, in Big Sandy, Tenn., to William Mack McNary and Effie Mac Aikins Thompson, she was graduated from Union University in 1954, and taught school 38 years including 35 years in the East Prairie School Systems. Also she was an artist and honored by the publication, "Best of Missouri Hands." A member of the First Baptist Church in East Prairie, she was active in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and Acteens.

On June 19, 1955, in Jackson, Tenn., she married Jack Dalton Tucker, who survives of Blue Springs.

Other survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah Ellen and Alec Poff of Blue Springs and Janelle Marie and Adam Cardenas of Fort Worth, Texas; one son and a daughter-in-law, Keith O. and Sandra Tucker of Keller, Texas; one brother, William Frederick Thompson of Memphis and five grandchildren and one great-grandson.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Frances Spencer and Lois Mae Turner.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie and from 12:30 p.m. Saturday until time for services at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Officiating will be George White and John David Poff.

Burial will follow in the Memorial Park Cemetery in East Prairie.